China allocates 1H rare earths production quotas

China's ministry of industry and information technology has released the first batch of rare earths production quotas for this year.

The quotas include 73,500t of rare earth oxide (REO) for mining products, including 60,970t of light rare earths and 12,530t of iron-absorption rare earths. The first batch of rare earths production quotas in 2018 equates to 70pc of the total 2017 mining quota of 105,000t.

China allocated 52,500t for the first batch rare earth mining quota for 2017, including 43,550t of light rare earths and 8,950t for iron-absorption rare earths.

The quotas have been given to the country's six large state-owned rare earth groups Chinalco, Northern Rare Earth, Xiamen Tungsten, China Minmetals, Guangdong Rare Earth and Southern Rare Earth. This is aimed at improving oversight of the industry and the implementation of government policy.

Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech acquired 41,650t of REO for mining products and 35,059t for smelting and separation products.

Southern Rare Earth Group has been allocated 18,725t of REO for mining products and 9,878t for smelting and separation products.

Chinalco obtained 8,645t of REO for mining products and 12,165t for smelting and separation products.

China Minmetals has been allocated 1,582t of REO for mining products and 3,960t for smelting and separation products.

Guangdong Rare Earth Group has acquired 1,540t of REO for mining products and 7,073t for smelting and separation products.

Xiamen Tungsten has received 1,358t of REO for mining products and 1,865t for smelting and separation products.